Thomas l



{N0 Mudel.)

T. L. WILLSON.

QALGIUM GARBIDE PROGESS.

No. 541,137. Patented June 18, 1895.

[1/ ll wps efl I 1111 0110! $20 M I v U ITED STATES PATENT 0 THOMAS L. WILLSON, on NEW YORK, N. Y.

CALCIUM-CARBIDE PROCESS.

' SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent N0. 541,137, dated June 18, 1 895.

Application filed January 16, 1895- Serial No. 535,063. (N0 specimens.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known thatl, THOMAS L. WILLSON, of the city, county,fand State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Calcium-Carbide Processes, of which the following is a full, true, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to an improved process of producing calcium carbide.

In carrying out my process I proceed as follows: I take very finely divided coke and lime, mechanically reduced to a. pulverulent condition, and I mingle them thoroughly mechanically in the proportion of thirty-five per cent. of coke and sixty-five per cent. of lime. I then subject them to the action of the electric current in a furnace such as that shown in the accompanying drawing, which is a vertical section, and in which- A represents an inclosing brick work; B, an internal lining, preferably of carbon, which, though preferable, is not in all cases necessary; 0, one of the conducting poles, by preference of broken carbon; D, a removable pole of compacted carbon; E, a tap hole for removing the melted product, if desired; -F, adjusting mechanism for raising the carbon pole D; and G, an alternating current dynamo, which may therefore be made commutatorless.

In starting this furnace, the carbon pole D and the conducting bodies 0 are connected to the poles of an alternating current dynamo having a mean potential, say of fiftyfive volts, and sufficient amperage to produce the amount of material required, having regard to the size of the furnace. Using, for instance, a pole having eight inches on the side, an amperage of about fifteen hundred is desirable. Under these conditions, by reason of the alternation of the current, a feeding in of the mingled lime and carbon between the poles is effected to an extent which does not occur when a direct current is used. Furthermore, it has been generally understood that the production of calcium carbide was due to an electrolytic action and not due to a smelting action. I have demonstrated that the action is purely a smelting action under the conditions of the process here described. Furthermore, that the block of molten calcium carbide which forms beneath the elevating pole is itself a good conductor of electricity and can be built up from the bottom to any desired height without preventing the operation of the process- A height, for instance, of two or more feet is entirely practicable in the apparatus above described. If

break, by reason of the substantial uniform feeding in of the material.

It is essential, in order to produce the new material here described,to have thelime and coke very finely divided. This is done by a powdering machine, and then the powdered lime and coke are thoroughly mingled by a grinder or mixer so as to bring these bodies into most intimate contact. The action of the alternating current is likewise essentially diiferent from that of a direct current, producing a series of explosions, the effect of whichjseems to be to feed the pulverized material into the-arc. This is very important in accomplishing a rapid and uniform conversion.

The reversals of the current may be satisfactorily run at'about fifty a minute and the serious difficulty of feeding in between the poles is overcome by this process.

Ido not in this application claim the application of an alternating current in combination with mingled carbon to other metallic oxides, having made application therefor on the 20th day of February, 1895, Serial No. 539,143.

I do not in this application claim the new product thereby produced, having made application therefor on the 4th day of March, I 1895, Serial No. 540,456.

What Iclaim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The process herein described, which consists in Ieeding in to the interspace between In testimonywhereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of to two subscribing witnesses.

THOMAS L. WILLSON. Witnesses:

H. COUTANT, W.- LAIRD GOLDSBOROUGH. 

